RESILIENCE

RESILIENCE

Dear readers, a lot of time has passed
since I last wrote to you. I return to my writing desk armed with more stories,
insights and experiences to share with all of you. I have challenged myself to
write to you on the 26
thof every month. Owing to some technical
difficulties, this blog is reaching you a few days late. I open this new
challenge with a subject that is close to my heart and a principle I diligently
observe in my life – Resilience.

Friends, I have lived a life that is
pretty meaningful in my own perception – And I have always loved the way I do
and perceive things. I am an advocate for change. I want to see people change,
and change the world too. With this dream, I started The Choice School 34 years
ago hoping to mould people who would continuously seek knowledge, demonstrate
noble character and prioritize good health. Thousands of students have
graduated through the gates of my school, many of them successful professionals
and entrepreneurs in their own right.

But, when I look around I still see a
lack of perfection and accurate thinking everywhere. This is one of the reasons
why we only see the names of 100 people from India make it to the list of the
richest, top performers in the world. To me, everyone can achieve provided you
love yourself and invest into yourself. I believe in the concept of having to
succeed and having the grit to do things beyond perfection. To put it simply,
perfection must be pursued from the word go. Take a child for instance. If they
are trained to practice and maintain perfection in their handwriting,
irrespective of what they go on to be in life, the discipline and detail of
perfection will follow them.

I have always wondered why majority of
the people whom I know are not driven nor have the mindset to take risks beyond
their own ambit of fear that they adopt in life. Fear to take risks, fear about
failing… I have been researching this for many years and I think it is driven
by various influences that have crept in through family traditions, lifestyle,
upbringing, religious influences, bad relationships and so on. But as I study
this more, I feel the 3 million-plus people who live in the southern part of
India and are supposed to be the educated masses, have a lack of drive. There
are only 30-40 Corporates based and owned in the South who can be named in the
commercial map of India compared to northern India where there are many. To me
it is nothing but the faith in resilience.

This week, I was in Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam – an economy that is fighting to grow. I noticed people on motorbikes
following the rules, constantly on the move and trying to do things in a
differentiated manner. Despite the disadvantage of not being fluent in English,
they are still fighting and aspiring. On this trip I had to use translators to
communicate, but when I looked into their eyes, I could see the fire of
resilience and determination to win against all odds. This is the crux of my
story this time. Do you have the grit in you to break out of the shell of fear?

For at least 100 years, people living in southern
India have been fortunate to not have faced any serious threats including
punishment from mother earth. Whereas, the Vietnamese found themselves in the
throes of a war with America where the odds were seemingly stacked against
them. Yet, they chased the Americans out with far less technological prowess,
resources or ground capabilities. How did they do it? I was intrigued to see
how things happened. I went to the war museum in Ho Chi Minh city and spent
hours walking the halls and reading what led to Vietnam chasing the Americans
out. It was nothing but commitment, grit and resilience that they wanted to
win. Such a small nation in size compared to India, and they defeated the
Americans. They lost millions of lives and the current generation still
remembers the fight their forefathers put up to build a resilient nation. But
out of the ashes of blood and war, what emerged in Vietnam was men and women
who live in a field of no fear.

So, what do we need? In the area that I
love in southern India, no war, no earthquake, no wrath of God has descended.
And may it continue to be so. But unless the men and women get out of the
shackles of fear, even from right under their families and learn to make
independent moves so they can become a person capable of facing any
eventuality, the dance with mediocracy 
will continue and perfection will remain
elusive. Life is not too long for everyone. While we are around one should seek
perfection in all that they do, and do it fearlessly.

To me, perfection is an ongoing pursuit
from the moment I wake up till I go to bed. Every morning, I make myself an
omelette, because I need that assurance that the first bite of food I have in a
day must be perfectly cooked and I do not trust anyone else to do it. Today,
after my ritual omelette had been made and I was preparing to leave the kitchen
my eye caught something amiss in its periphery. I looked up and saw that a
ceiling panel was misaligned, exposing a gap which I have not noticed before.
Immediately, I asked my staff why it was so and told him to get it fixed. There
needs to be a sense of urgency to get things done, every day and at every
level. Do not be lazy, do not procrastinate, do not look away when your eyes
perceive something is amiss. Confront it, fix it and keep moving.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,
everyone – let us push ourselves to be winners against all odds. Let us not
hold back. Let the fear of failure not get in the way of risking it all to
succeed. Let us be resilient.

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